(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 February IFJ press release: Media Release February 26th 1999 IFJ backs strike over jobs, pay and the future of public broadcasting IFJ today called on journalists’ unions in 100 countries to back a major strike in Canada which is at the heart of a struggle to protect public […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 February IFJ press release:
Media Release
February 26th 1999
IFJ backs strike over jobs, pay and the future of public broadcasting
IFJ today called on journalists’ unions in 100 countries to back a major
strike in Canada which is at the heart of a struggle to protect public
broadcasting.
Some 2,000 technical workers at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) have gone on strike after management failed to give assurances
over jobs and rejected a modest pay claim. Journalists and other workers
may join the strike in the coming weeks as fears grow that the
confrontation has been manufactured by the government and may lead to
privatisation of some regional sections of North America’s premier
public broadcasting company.
“There are fears that there is a secret agenda,” said Aidan White, IFJ
General Secretary, “with taxpayers’ money being used to fuel a
confrontation which at the end of it could see parts of the CBC being
broken up.”
The IFJ believes that CBC’s failure to negotiate over pay and a worrying
refusal to give assurances that no more jobs will be cutback after 700
sackings in the past three years highlights union fears that more cuts
and changes are on the way.
“The Canadian government must reassure all citizens and the workforce
that public broadcasting is safe in its hands. A clear and unambiguous
commitment to negotiate and settle this damaging strike is essential,”
said the IFJ.
IFJ fears arise from signs that all around the world, public
broadcasting is under pressure both from the private sector and
governments over public funding. “Public broadcasting exists because the
media market cannot protect pluralism and diversity and quality in radio
and television. This is a dispute about jobs, about fair wages and,
inevitably, about public service obligations of media in democratic
society. The government must make its position clear.”
